Gonzo’s Smokehouse & BBQ

The wait time was long, 11:45 / ordered 12:50 ,but it was worth the wait. Taco Thursday 🌮. Menu was limited, I was told on Friday that the full menu would be offered. Nice presentation and food taste great 👍.

Don't sleep on Gonzo's. Let me tell you what I observed about 30 minutes before close for the 5 minutes that I was in there: #1 Hand washing by the food prepared. #2 Owner (Jason? At least he looked like the guy from the website) was on site. #3 Patient cashier. Waited courteousy while I decided and answered questions I had about what was available on the menu #4 Glove wearing while handling dishes and food #5 No food or trash on the floor at the end of the shift. #6 All tables were pre bused, reset, and restocked. #7 Items that were unavailable were clearly marked out in red on the menu to communicate that non-verbally to customers. #8 Work environment was calm. No employee seemed agitated, irritated, unhappy, or stressed out. #9 All hands on deck. Every employee was ACTIVELY working to get the restaurant closing duties done. E.g. counting cashier drawer, washing dishes, organizing dishware, stocking #10 Organized binds of ramekins behind the cashier counter for easy access of BBQ sauces and bagging food #11 Cashier walked my order over to where I was standing instead of calling me over to the counter #12 Hispanic music was playing in conjuction with the theme: "Taco Thursday." Way to incorporate the multi-cultural theme through music! I am an educator, and I also work part time in the service industry. These observations for the 5 minutes that I was in there were EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE! The team work, the calmness of the environment, and the cleanliness were enough to make me out of a regular customer.... But then.... I bit into the taco when I got home. O. My. Gosh. Y'all.... don't sleep on Gonzo's. This has got to be the best BBQ taco I think I have ever had. If I have ever had one. The infusion of the fresh cilantro, the saltiness of the cojita cheese, and the acidity of the pickled red onion, only made me upset that I under estimated this local business. I was upset with myself that I live right down the road and did not try this gem sooner! I admire that he is open only a few days a week. I feel like he creates a good work life balance for himself and his family. They sold out of almost every taco, so the word is out. Gonzo's is the place in Luling for BBQ. When your BBQ is that good, people will wait until your are open to get the quality that this business provides. Just the cleanliness and teamwork alone would have made me a regular, but y'all, that taco was simply AMAZING!

The best brisket burger I’ve had I also had the Cuban and the Jive turkey. All the meat was tender and juicy. I will definitely recommend to anyone who love barbecue and I most definitely will be returning. Nice atmosphere and the cashier was very helpful and friendly. Can’t wait to visit on a Friday!

The food was pretty good! It was fresh & tasty. Had the cheeks, turkey leg, brisket boudin, corn grits & mac n cheese. The presentation was A1 just like the customer service. Can't wait to go back to try the smash burger.

Gonzo's Smokehouse shines on Smashburger Thursday with their brisket Smashburger—a must-try! The burger combines a crispy yet juicy brisket patty with traditional BBQ flavors. It's a delightful twist that BBQ lovers shouldn't miss. The atmosphere is rustic and welcoming, perfect for enjoying some of the best burgers in the region.

We're visiting from Seattle on a Friday and had to wait in line outside for 30mins or so, to the delight of flying ants. The verdict? We think their food and service were all worth the trek and wait so go check them out!

This was a great adventure with very very good food had corn grits mac and cheese pork sandwich El jefe. I have a Southwest Texas sauce a Carolina mustard sauce and a mango habanero sauce. All the sauces were very good except for the mango having Euro was not very spicy. Enjoyed a very well done bread pudding which had great cinnamon flavor to it they also kick in a little cup of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream for a topping

This was my first time trying the place and I will probably not be back. Im usually not 1 to complain but my sides were forgotten about and not much was offered to fix the issue. I can always drive back and pick it up but when you live about 15 mins away and it's raining, the thought of a 30 minute drive for 2 sides is not worth it. After tipping I paid roughly $80 for 2 sandwiches and a dessert.

Gonzo's Smokehouse is the bomb! If you haven't ever heard about this place or even seen it, I can totally relate! I was going to visit my son in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and he, like myself, is a bbq connoisseur. We were talking about where he could help me celebrate my birthday, and he started digging and came up with Gonzo's, an hour and 33 minute drive, and 86 miles from his house!! This place only opens two days a week, Thursdays from 11:30 until 2:00 and Fridays from 11:30 until 3:00!! I said to myself, how in the hell does a place survive with only being open two days a week, and then reading further about Gonzo's, I found out that there is a line around the block waiting for this place to open on those days and they sell out very quickly! So I said to myself, am I willing to wait hours before a bbq place opens, again, (my son took me to Austin, Texas, and we waited almost 3 hours) for some good bbq? Then, after reading about the place, my son saw that a day before, you can "pre-order" anything on the menu, and they will have it for you whenever you arrive, the next day, and you'll still have whatever you order, even if they run out of a menu item! Well, I said that was a "no brainer" and my son virtually ordered almost every single item on the menu, well over $100 of this famous bbq, the day before we were to make the drive, knowing that if for some odd reason we don't make it the next day, you will lose your complete purchase!! The next day, we made the trek to Gonzo's, and from the minute we arrived, and barely saw the place, because you could easily miss the signage on the glass window is when I knew it was going to be great! Back up some two hours before we arrived at 1:30, and I told my son to call the place and see if they could have our order hot, and they said "no problem, we'll place It in the warmer now!" This place is crazy good, from walking into the place and seeing the ambiance, and from talking to the staff, you absolutely know that your meal is going to be great! I totally have to say, the wait was worth it, and we'll definitely be back!

The brisket boudin was everything I it would be and then some! The mac and cheese was really tasty too! I really love the side pickled onion, jalapeños, and spicy pineapple. Mixing and matching every bite with different combinations of flavors was the best part. I took off work to go here. Will definitely return!

This place is not a 5 star, it's off the charts! I finally got over to the area after trying to get here for a minute. They have very limited hours on Thursday and Friday. All of the bbq is perfection and that's no joke. The best bbq I have ever had and probably will ever have. I am still day dreaming about the brisket. Big portions and friendly service. If you need to take a day off to get here it is worth it.

Take into consideration for a moment that there are, at this moment in time, nothing but 5-star reviews for Gonzo's Smokehouse! That is an exceptional accomplishment, and I agree with every one of the 5 star reviews!! The owner, Jason, has a gift and a passion when it comes maintaining his product. Every item sold at Gonzo's is high quality with even higher quality service. The barbeque offered each week may change a little from different beef items to pork, to turkey or some combination of all 3 and more. Honestly, you cannot go wrong with any item on the menu, they are all so well made that you will wish you ordered more. My absolute favorite items are the beef rib, beef cheeks, beef brisket, brisket tacos, and hot sausage smash burgers. Smash burgers or tacos are offered on Thursday's and a full barbeque menu is offered on Friday's. Gonzo's is very active on social media to let their customers know what is available that week and the information provided includes preordering options. If you are considering visiting Gonzo's, don't think twice and definitely just go, you will love every bite!!

I don't know how I missed reviewing Gonzo's. If you are anywhere near the state of Louisiana this is the place to be for bbq. I've never had anything this phenomenal again. Every single thing is amazing. If you want to be in the know follow them on Facebook they tell you when pre order is going live, and you're going to want to preorder as much as possible. Sometimes they have limited items that you can only get if you stand in line for it, and let me tell you it's so worth it. They have a smaller indoor seating area, but you can also take it to go. If you're not sure about what to get or how much to get just ask, everyone here is very friendly and they don't make you feel rushed. The Brisket boudin is in a class of its own. You'll never eat something so delicious in your life. All of the different variations of boudin I've had were delicious. The Brisket is amazing either moist or lean. The pork belly and brisket burnt ends are little bite sized meat candy deliciousness. Usually the bbq places I've been to have decent BBQ and really not good sides. Not the case here, everything they touch is magic. Mac and cheese is delicious Gouda corn grits are delicious Dirty rice is delicious Cookie butter bread pudding is delicious So do yourself a favor and get some BBQ Friday from Gonzo's and change your taste buds life.

This place was absolutely amazing. I had the brisket sandwich and had to remove some of the brisket off because there was as do much of it on the sandwich. Also ordered the cheese grits which were delicious. To go I ordered a link of their smoked brisket Boudin and I will be returning to Gonzo's because of this item. I've never had anything like it. Didn't taste anything like boudin but it tasted glorious. The burnt ends looked amazing but person in front of me ordered last lb.

Best burger I've ever had! Burnt ends are amazing. Service was fast. We dined there. I'd drive 30/40 minutes just to indulge in anything from Gonzos

Worth the wait! Not knocking it but some his food looks better than it tastes. Just beautiful meat. Like magazine worthy for sure. Like his brisket and sliced turkey both of those I was thinking I would like best and was looking forward to but was the least liked of the spread. Not saying it was bad just not up to the level of his other things. The brisket was too thick and mushy. Needed a little more firmness for my liking. Anyways. Out of the entire platter I would say the beef cheeks was the best, just finished eating it for left overs and mmmmm delicious reheated. Had the tri tip, burnt ends, pork jowl, beef shank, cheese stuffed chicken sausage, and pulled pork. All good. Beef shank I was hoping for more marrow but the little I had was tasty. Shank was also a little tough but still good. The two sauces on the table are both fantastic. Sides were Gouda grits and Mac and cheese. I honestly didn't care for either. Mac was tough and not stretchy creamy. Gouda grits were not flavored enough. Don't skip the pickles and onions. Man I wish would have asked for more. Dessert rocked. Cookie butter pudding and cookie butter bread pudding. Both super delicious and worth the pain of finishing after so much food. Can't wait to go back but will pre order as the line has too many people that jump in with their friends and his stuff sells out before you get there and I was even pretty far in the front. I started out like 9th and after the jumpers was like 18th.

Food and atmosphere is not worth the price of food. I had a bad experience with my food being forgotten about so I left a review. After looking the next day, I realize I had been blocked from the social media page for leaving this review. I think this reaction speaks for who actually makes the food. I guess I will never return.

Gonzo's Smokehouse & BBQ is absolutely the best BBQ in Louisiana I've ever had. Gonzo's specializes in central Texas style BBQ which is one of my favorite types of BBQ. This is some of the top food Louisiana offers in the BBQ category so you definitely want to try out the great food here. This is the best BBQ restaurant in the New Orleans area and all of Louisiana along with giving many of the famous Austin, TX BBQ joints a run for their money. I have eaten BBQ at many of the top places in the USA and most of the top rated spots in the Texas Hill Country/Austin, TX area and I really loved the food here. For BBQ this is the best place to eat Louisiana BBQ and Gonzo's deserves to be crowned king of Louisiana BBQ! Gonzo's has amazing brisket, fantastic turkey and their brisket smashburgers are super juicy and they have so many more meat options to try. Gonzo's also takes a lot more time than most other BBQ joints with their sides and they really make some fantastic tasting sides. All of the sides I've had have been fantastic with my favorite so far being the sweet potato casserole which was more of a dessert! The only negatives about this place is they are only open for Friday lunch and then they often get a line for the single day they are open. Gonzo's also does catering so keep that in mind for your events. Overall you just simply need to make sure you get to Luling on a Friday before 11:30 to get a place in line and eat this amazing BBQ! The good news is that the line typically moves quite fast and you can also order carry out and they let the carry out folks get their orders before the dine in folks. My video review of Gonzo's Smokehouse & BBQ is here: https://youtu.be/4JQLXLGMCyE

For a place only open 8 hours a week, I had higher expectations. The brisket smash tasted like a regular burger. Standard grocery store potato roll bun and a Kraft single on top. Friendly staff.

Gonzo's is amazing. So amazing that I seriously considered not writing this review. So amazing that once I finish this review I will strongly considering deleting it. Why? Because I am worried all of you fine people will discover it and make the line longer. Gonzo's is only open on Fridays. You can place a takeout order earlier in the week and pick it up between 10-11 on Friday. Regular service begins at 11:30. There will be a line. It's worth waiting. I am a huge fan of BBQ, particularly brisket. As of April 29, 2021, Gonzo's is the best brisket in the metro area. It is as good as Hutchin's in TX which is the standard by which I judge brisket. Their brisket is smoky, juicy, tender, and melt in your mouth brisketyness. Don't know what brisketyness is? I feel sorry for you. Get some and you will get it. I have also tried their chicken fajita sausage and beef cheeks. The cheeks were interesting. The consistency is like brisket but the flavor is a little more rich. I liked it, and it was smoked perfectly, but I will stick with brisket. The chicken fajita sausage was the best chicken sausage I have ever had. Often chicken sausage is dry and flavorless. This was juicy and flavorful. If you claim to be a BBQ lover, you must get to Gonzo's. It is truly great. I will be there tomorrow and every other Friday that I get the chance.

Great BBQ. Make sure you preorder though. You'll be sorry otherwise. A little pricey but worth it

The food was amazingly great and delicious. Large portions. The service was fantastic and the service came with a smile. The location is great and the ambiance makes you feel like you're in an old country style restaurant which goes with the food.

This was our last stop before we ended our 2-week vacation and jumped on our flight home. We flew all over the Gulf Coast and ate way too much! We had BBQ in Austin, Houston, and Florida, and nothing compared to Gonzo's. When we arrived around 1:30 on a Friday, almost everything was sold out. That's how you can tell everything was GOOD! I'm not a big fan of BBQ. My honey loves it. But, I was looking forward to the brisket boudin. I LOVE Best Stop's boudin, but this is on another level. OMG! I can't explain the flavors, but it was so YUMMY! My honey, had the pull pork sandwich, and he NEVER orders pull pork. He said, "It's too messy to eat." But that was the only thing left. He said it was really good, and they had the best pickles he's ever tasted. We also got to enjoy their turkey leg, I ate the skin, and he ate the meat. Let me tell you about that skin! It tasted like a sweet and spicy beef jerky. The owner was so nice, he chatted with us, while he made the sandwich. It's good to see an owner out on the front line working and talking to his customers. The line of women working there are all friendly. I can't wait to go back next year and try everything, especially since they let you pre-order starting on Sundays!

Owner Jason Gonzalez has had his Gonzo's storefront for about a year, but his food has already amassed a loyal following of fans far and wide. He works all week getting his meat ready for the public and his selection is spectacular: brisket, beef ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends, turkey breast, chicken thighs and barbocoa boudin, all served by the half-pound or pound (or more!), and cut fresh when you order. They're only open on Fridays, so be sure to get there early before they sell-out. Even better, Gonzo's takes pre-orders (up to 50 a week), if you want to make sure that you will be in that tasty number. I had the brisket plate ($12) with brisket mac ($4.50) and corn grits with Gouda cheese ($4.50). As soon as Jason sliced up this meat in front of me, I could see why this place has already made a name for itself. Big chunks of juicy, thick brisket cooked to perfection with a gorgeous crust that made my mouth water. Digging into it, I was not only blown away by the flavor, but how tender it was. It crumbled nicely under my fork and I was easily able to cut through it like butter. The brisket mac was THICK. That's the only way I can describe it- they were generous with the cheese and the bits of brisket mixed in pushed it to the next level. The corn grits with Gouda cheese is made with butter and the menu promised they would be creamy; I wasn't disappointed. The flavor of both of these sides was beyond rich and totally worth the drive. As I was eating here, I was actually planning my next visit. I was making plans to order ahead, so that I could sample the boudin, pulled pork and turkey. I was contemplating getting another order of the brisket mac to-go. Needless to say: Gonzo's gave me everything I could want in a barbecue place; the food here is what I think of when I think of good barbecue. I made a list of best hidden BBQ for Very Local New Orleans and this l restaurant was on it! Read it here: https://nola.verylocal.com/bbq-new-orleans/228292/

The wait was long but free water and beer great touch! I tried a little bit of all the meat and everything was excellent! The owner cuts and weighs everything and perfection is his thing. If you don't mind waiting like possibly an hour or more you will not be disappointed!

Gonzo's hits hard and knocked it out the park. So, I waited in line for 20 minutes to see what all the hype was about. Gonzo's has a lot to offer. It's a Friday lunch only restaurant. It's a till they sell out sort of affair but well worth the wait. Brisket was very barky. I love a good bark. This was a bark all others should be measured by. I also tried the pork belly burnt ends. They were very good. Exceptionally good. But the best thing on the menu in my opinion was the Brisket Boudin. The Brisket Boudin dipped in their tangy mustard sauce was an explosion of smoky goodness. I had the Mac and Cheese and the Beans for my sides. It's going to be hard to top this place. But over the next few months I'm going to see what the area has to offer in the world of BBQ. Smoke On!

The best barbecue in the state of Louisiana. Great service and perfect food. My only critique would be that I wished he was open more often. Don't miss out on this local treasure!

Arrived ten minutes before opening, and just like Killen's or Franklin bbq in Texas a line was already queued. Not as bad as those but still thirty or so hungry people lined up in my option on the same quality and flavor of those legends. Wow delicious, well developed bark but not so peppery to destroy the flavor of the belly and brisket. Moist , tender meat almost buttery. This is true bbq from the distinct butcher paper to the sound of the cleaver wracking the wood table. Just missing the cheddar cheese , jalapeño , saltine crackers and BIg Red soda ! Only one side item left twenty minutes after opening the sweet potato casserole, which was so freakin good wished bought more than two.

I was lucky enough to make it by Gonzo's today after careful planning and a cross-town journey I'm pleased to report it was so worth it! Upon coming to the front of the line I was face to face with the owner himself talking BBQ and getting a recap of how he got started in the business. I tried Pork Belly Burnt Ends. They were smokey with peppery overtones. Firm yet tender to the bite and very delicious! I had to try the brisket and it did not disappoint. Moist, superbly tender, and spot on with the Salt/Pepper proportions. Excellent flavor penetration on the brisket! By recommendation of the owner, I tried the Pork Jowls, wow!!! Super rich, which he did mention but man are they good! A guilty pleasure for sure lol. I also tried the pepper jack boudin, it was damn good too. I've never had cheese in boudin but it's my new favorite thing. The mac and cheese was thick and cheesy but I didn't get far in it because I fell in LOVE with the SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE !!!! Ya'll, it's amazing for real. You guys knocked it out of the park with this casserole my goodness. All in all, my meal was amazing. This place is the real deal! I won't be back in this area again without stopping by for some more of this amazing fire food!!!

We waited over 30 minutes in line, but it was so worth it! We got frozen brisket burgers )for future meals), pulled pork, pork belly burnt ends, brisket, Mac and cheese, corn grits, and Vietnamese coffee smoked bread pudding- enough for at least 2 meals! Everything was delicious- nothing was dry and the smoky flavor was just right.

This is the best lunch I've had this year. Jason and his dad are immensely talented and unbelievably kind and humble. The entire staff is very nice and helpful. I recommend absolutely anything on the menu but it is the best booty and you'll have in your life, plus amazing beef sandwiches and baked beans. Get here early they're only open on Friday and have a wonderful lunch. The earth needs more people like this.

Food is absolutely phenomenal. BBQ is much better that the BBQ in NC. Go early on BBQ day. They sell out fast. Service was wonderful. Since we were from out of town and not familiar with boudin they let us try it first. It was AMAZING! Fun atmosphere

I've never eaten here, but I've heard my friends rave about the bbq. It's only open on Thursdays and the lines are long, and no one complains. I will definitely make plans to go and update my review.

Sooo yummy! We'll definitely be getting more. Especially the brisket, pulled pork, and corn grits!!

As you will see when you take a short ride to what I believe is up there with my top 2-3 Ive ever eaten! Period. Oh.... There really nice too! It's the kinda place you don't want to tell others about. Because Yes... They run out! Excellent BBQ FIXINS AND MORE!

So delicious! The best bbq you can get in LA. Burnt ends, brisket, pulled pork, pork belly. Never had anything here that didn't melt in your mouth. Make sure you get all the sides, because they change - sweet potato casserole will change your life. The mac and cheese - crawfish, or brisket, both are delish. Smoked bread pudding - don't miss it! If he's got some brisket burgers in the freezer - get some for later. You'll thank me. Also, get some bbq sauce - Carolina gold is my fave. And his pickles and picked onions, if he's got them. If you've got a large gathering, he'll cater too. Everything from steaks to brisket tacos. Your choice or let him pick the menu. My advice: let him pick. You won't be disappointed.

Heaven - The brisket boudin is fantastic, pork belly, even the chicken boudin which I was at first skeptical of, but it really is worth the drive and so dang tasty. I've skipped out of work early on Fridays to go get this stuff (shh don't tell my boss). OR if we get a Friday holiday, I literally get the meat sweats and reserve an order by Wednesday. Yeah prices are a bit high, but they're high errywhere and the quality is so great! Bar-none best in the GNO area.

OMG THIS IS THE BEST BARBECUE I HAVE EVER HAD!!!! I'm not over exaggerating. The sandwich was so good and I could've eaten it with NO TEETH!! Lol the amazing aroma already me had me at the door. Central Texas bbq. Listen. I don't care how far you think you are from this place. ITS WORTH THE TRIP... trust me. Then everyone there was so friendly and professional. I really appreciated the hospitality and excellent energy. The vibes were just right. I am officially a lover of Gonzo's. No need to look anywhere else. I haven't had better yet(and I love to eat and try different bbq) we also had the beef brisket which was equally tender and a boudin you'll think about afterwards. It's already time to go back. See you guys soon!!!!

This place was amazing! We can't say enough good things about this place. I had ox tails and beef cheeks and I know it may sound weird or like something you'd never want to try but it was the most tender and flavorful thing I've ever had. Now me saying that don't think that brisket or pulled pork or burnt ends or sausage or chicken wasn't good either this was all amazing the sides were great too.

Really good barbecue. I had the brisket pulled pork the corn grits and the cobbler. I also had the boudin and it was really good. I haven't been able to make it back because I always forget they are only open on Friday

I ordered in Tuesday evening for pickup Friday morning. The pickup process was easy and the food was ready. We planned to have the bbq for dinner but had to eat it for lunch. The brisket and pulled pork were juicy and delicious. We enjoyed the Mac and cheese and grits. We will return.

Fantastic brisket sandwich. Absolutely the best I have had in Louisiana. The brisket boudin is excellent as well. It is very different, as you might expect as it substitutes bbq brisket for pork liver. However, it is excellent and worth a try. I will be back but will order ahead this time, after waiting in line for an hour today. Highly recommended and I hope they expand their operating hours!

This bbq is in the Texas style but also unique to Louisiana. Highly recommend. I travel the country for work and seek out good bbq and coffee whilst moving about. I am glad to now have quality smoked meats in the area.

Jason Gonzales is my guy!!! He runs a top notch BBQ establishment. Must try his BBQ sauces. Everything is awesome. From pulled pork, to burnt ends, to brisket, to beef ribs. Awesome stuff. He uses all prime grade meat.

I've tried bbq all across our country by far this is the best bbq I've had. Everything is a hit on the menu. Just wished they were open more than Friday and the occasional Saturday.